News from the Field Archives - National Wraparound Initiative (NWI)
Recommendations to Center Young People and Families in Youth Probation
April 27, 2025 | NWI
In this report, young people and their families who have experienced probation offer insights into the youth probation system’s strengths and areas for improvement. They share recommendations for transforming probation into a model focused on accountability, personal growth, positive behavior change, and long-term success.
Not-For-Profit Foster Care Agencies Are Being Forced to Close Due to a Lack of Liability Insurance
April 27, 2025 | NWI
Lawsuits, regulations, social inflation and policy failure have made it more difficult for not-for-profit agencies to obtain liability insurance, leading to closures and placing further stress on the child welfare system. This report describes the problem, and offers policy solutions.
How Social Platforms Can Address the Youth Mental Health Crisis
April 27, 2025 | NWI
While social media platforms may contribute to harm for some youth, they also can provide an avenue for positive social connection and/or direct young people to helpful – even life-saving – resources. This article explores steps social media platforms can take to increase their positive impact.
Positive Results from Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy
April 27, 2025 | NWI
A new study provides evidence that equine-assisted therapy and traditional psychotherapy provide similar benefits to youth struggling with emotional and behavioral difficulties.
Do Smartphones and Social Media Really Harm Teens’ Mental Health?
April 27, 2025 | NWI
Researchers are debating the strength of evidence connecting technology to surging rates of adolescent mental illness. But they have some clear advice for parents.
Have We Been Thinking About A.D.H.D. All Wrong?
April 27, 2025 | NWI
With ADHD diagnoses at a record high, some experts have begun to question our assumptions about the condition – and how to treat it.
Beyond Psychotropics: Critical Strategies for Supporting Youth in Foster Care
March 22, 2025 | NWI
This article provides an overview of four clinical features that can be particularly burdensome for foster children and interfere with delivery of effective psychiatric care, as well as guidance on how the child psychiatrist can most appropriately respond to the foster youth’s needs in each scenario.
Strong Friendships Matter More Than Social Media Use
March 22, 2025 | NWI
Teens who report strong, high-quality friendships tend to have better mental health – an influence that appears nearly three times stronger than the link between social media use and mental health challenges, according to a new study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
New Study of Pediatric Mental Health Boarding
March 22, 2025 | NWI
A new study examines pre- and post-COVID trends in mental health (MH) boarding for pediatric patients seen at US children’s hospitals and to identify demographic and other features associated with prolonged boarding. MH boarding is when a child or youth comes to an emergency room in crisis and needs inpatient psychiatric care, but no beds are available. They may need to await care either in the ER itself or in a medical inpatient unit.
How to Find a Therapist for Your LGBTQ+ Child
March 22, 2025 | NWI
Being LGBTQ+ is not a mental disorder, but LGBTQ+ young people are at higher risk for anxiety, depression and suicide due to the stigma, shame and discrimination they often face. Working with an LGBTQ+ affirming therapist can help young people explore their identities. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of mental health professionals trained to understand the issues facing LGBTQ+ young people. This brief examines how to find an appropriate therapist.